Mokpo City Launches Public Deliberation Committee for Korea Najeon Chilgi Museum

Appointment of 20 Committee Members Including Institutional and Social Organizations, Resident Representatives

Future Discussions on Major Issues Such as Support and Opposition to Museum Construction

Mokpo City launched a public deliberation committee on the 22nd to gather citizens' opinions on the project to establish the (tentatively named) Korea Najeon Chilgi Museum.

According to the city on the 27th, the project aims to build the nation's first public Najeon Chilgi museum in Mokpo, based on 294 Najeon Chilgi artworks donated last year by former National Assembly member Son Hye-won, to inherit traditional craft techniques and revitalize cultural tourism.

The public deliberation committee held its first meeting at the Mokpo City Hall situation room and consists of 20 members, including experts in tourism, culture, architecture, history, and museum management, as well as representatives from institutions, social organizations, residents, and city council members.

The Citizens' Participation Deliberation Committee for the Construction of the Mokpo Korean Najeon Chilgi Museum has been launched, and a commemorative photo is being taken.
[Photo by Mokpo City]

At this meeting, activities included the awarding of appointment letters, election of the chairperson and vice-chairperson, progress report on the museum project, Q&A session, and discussion of future schedules. Kim Jong-ik, director of the nonprofit organization Sangsaengnamu, was elected as the chairperson.

The public deliberation committee will discuss major controversial issues related to the museum construction project by topic and submit a final recommendation to the city.

The next meeting will be held on the 5th of next month at the Mokpo Cultural City Center, where the condition of 120 donated artworks temporarily stored at the Natural History Museum will be inspected.

Chairperson Kim Jong-ik said, “I am grateful to be entrusted with this important task along with many committee members, and I will do my best to ensure the public deliberation committee is fair and transparent.”

Mayor Park Hong-ryul stated, “The need to actively utilize the donated Najeon Chilgi as a new tourism trend led to the promotion of the museum construction project,” adding, “I hope a substantial forum for public deliberation will be formed so that results truly desired by the citizens of Mokpo can be achieved.”